Junk basket and plug apparatus



J.R.BAKER TTOQNEYS dof/N mese,

July z5', 1961 JUNK BASKET AND PLUG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1957 United States Patent O 2,993,539 JUNK BASKET 'AND PLUG APPARATUS John R. Baker, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Baker Oll Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporatlon of California Filed Dec. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 705,194 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-99) The present invention relates to subsurface well bore devices, and more particularly to the prevention of debris and the like from dropping onto a lower tool in a well bore which is to be subsequently retrieved.

Certain subsurface well bore devices, such as retrievable bridge plugs, are run in the well bore to a desired location. One or several operations may then be performed in the well bore above the plug, such as casing perforating or cementing, after which the plug is to be retrieved from the well bore. Heretofore, the performance of the subsequent operations has sometimes resulted in the depositing of junk and debris on the plug, effecting its jamming in the well bore and preventing its retrieval.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to prevent junk, debris, and the like, from dropping upon and jamming a lower tool in the well bore, thereby insuring that such tool can be retrieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a junk basket above a bridge plug, or the like, in order that the junk basket will catch all junk particles that might otherwise lodge on the bridge plug and resist or completely prevent its removal from the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a junk basket above a bridge plug to prevent debris, and the like, from dropping upon the plug, in which the junk basket is removable from the well bore in the event the plug becomes stuck therein.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present invention. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope ofthe invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of an apparatus disposed in the well casing;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the apparatus shown in FIG. l, parts being shown in side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4 4 on FIG. 3.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes a junk basket A which is disposed upon a lower tool B, such as a retrievable bridge plug, adapted to be set in a well casing C at a desired point therewithin. The junk basket A and bridge plug B are run in the well bore by means of a suitable running-in string D, such as a string of tubing, extending to the top of the hole. The plug and basket combination are also removable from the well casing by means of the running-in string of tubing. To secure their removal, a running-in and retrieving tool E may be provided at the lower end of the tubing string.

Although particular reference has been made to the securing of a running-in and retrieving tool E to the running-in string D, it may be indirectly connected to such string. For example, a retrievable well packer (not shown) may be connected to the string of tubing. The

2,993,539 Patented July 25, 1961 ICC lower portion of this packer may, in turn, be secured to the running-in and retrieving tool E.

The rettievable bridge plug B may be of any desired design, which is also true of the running-in and retrieving tool E. Such apparatus may take the form illustrated and described in the patent to R. C. Baker, No. 2,776,012. As shown in such patent, the rettievable bridge plug B is adapted to be lowered in the well casing C and also to be removed therefrom. It can be anchored in packedoi condition in the well casing through the medium of slips (not shown) and packing devices. inasmuch as the specific bridge plug forms no part of the present invention, `only the upper portion thereof is illustrated in the drawings. As shown, it includes a body 10 having an upwardly facing cup-shaped lrubber or rubber-like packing element 11 thereon ladapted to seal against the well casing. This body has a central passage 12 and an upper valve seat 13, there being a valve head 14 movable downwardly into engagement with this seat under the inuence of a compression spring 15. The valve head 14 is movable upwardly by fluid pressure therebelow, to allow iluid to by-pass around the bridge plug. The valve head 14 is also movable upwardly from engagement with its seat by an upwardly facing shoulder 16 formed on a control rod or bar 17 extending in the passage 12 of the apparatus and which coacts with the slips (not shown) and with the body 10 of the tool to either prevent the slips vfrom being set against the well casing or to permit such setting action to occur.

The control rod 17 extends upwardly above the body and is threadedly or otherwise suitably secured to a control rod head 18 which has a laterally extending pin 19 thereon for coaction with the running-in and retrieving tool E. Ordinarily, such pin 19 will not be required in connection with the running-in and retrieving tool E, where the junk basket A is used. It is only under certain emergency conditions that its use becomes important, as explained hereinbelow.

A spacer sleeve 20 surrounds the control rod 17 and rests upon the upper end 21 of the body 10. A string 22 encompasses the control rod with its lower end bearing against the spacer sleeve and its upper end against a lock nut 23 which is jammed against the lower end of the control rod head 18. As further assurance against inadvertent detachment of the control rod head from the control rod, a retainer pin 24 may be inserted transversely through the members.

The junk basket A surrounds the control rod 17 and its head 18. It includes an inner imperforate sleeve 25, the lower end of which may be integral with a lower guide or annular end wall 26 of the basket. The lower end 27 of the end wall is tapered in an upward and inward direction for coaction with a companion tapered surface 28 at the upper end of the upper body portion of the packer. Surrounding the inner .sleeve 25 in laterally spaced relation with respect thereto is an outer sleeve 29, the lower end of which encompasses the lower guide 26 being secured thereto by one or more screws 30. This `outer sleeve 29 extends upwardly to a substantial extent, well above the upper end of the inner sleeve 25, its upper end being open and carrying a rubber wiper member 31 having an outwardly directed flange 32 adapted to slidably engage the wall of the well casing C. Depending from its ange is a skirt portion 33 of the wiper member, clamped to the upper portion of the outer sleeve 29 by encompassing retaining sleeve 34 held in place by one or more screws 35 threaded into the outer sleeve.

The outer sleeve 29 is spaced laterally from the inner sleeve 25 to form an Iannular chamber 36 therewith throughout its lower portion. It is held centered with respect to the inner sleeve by circumferentially spaced centering lugs 37 on the inner sleeve projecting laterally outward therefrom toward the outer sleeve 29. The outer sleeve may extend upwardly to a substantial extent above the upper inwardly directed head portion 38 of the inner sleeve, so Yas to provide adequate capacity in the junk basket yfor the retention of junk, debris, and the like. The `outer sleeve 29 has perforations or slots 39 to allow fluids to drain therefrom, and also to permit the iluids in the well bore to by-pass through the basket during the time that it is being raised or lowered in the well bore.

The control head 18 is releasably secured to a connector member 40 by a transverse shear pin 41. This connector member, in turn, is threadedly attached to the lower portion of an auxiliary control rod or bar 42, the upper end of which is threadedly secured to an auxiliary control rod head 43 having a pin 44 projecting laterally therefrom for appropriate coaction with the runningin and retrieving tool E, to locate the control rods 42, 17 -in a particular position relative to the body 10 of the tool, insuring the retention of the packer slips in an inactive position or in a position to be anchored against the well casing. inadvertent -disconnection between the connector 40 and the auxiliary control rod 42 is prevented by a transverse retaining pin 45 threaded through both of the members, whereas inadvertent disconnection between the auxiliary head 43 and the auxiliary control rod 42 is prevented by a similar retaining pin 46 extending transversely through both of these members and also by `a lock nut 47 threaded on the `auxiliary control rod and jammed against the Iauxiliary head.

The apparatus is run in the well casing in essentially the same manner yas the apparatus illustrated in Patent 2,776,012. The running-in and retrieving tool E is disposed over the auxiliary control rod head 43 andthe auxiliary rod 42 itself, with the lower .guide portion 50 of the running-in and retrieving tool engaging the upper end 51 of the outer sleeve of the basket. The lower end 52 of the guide is tapered in a downward `and inward direction for coaction with the companion tapered surface 51 at the upper end lof the outer sleeve. The apparatus is moved downwardly in the well casing with the guide 50 bearing upon the outer sleeve 29 and with the lower guide portion 26 of the basket bearing upon the upper end 28 o-f the plug body., At the same time, the running-in and retrieving tool is engaging the pin 44 on the auxiliary rod head 43 and has shifted the auxiliary control rod 42 downwardly as well as the lower control rod portion 17 downwardly within the plug body 10 to an extent limited by engagement of the running-in and vretrieving tool guide 50 with the upper end 51 of the outer sleeve 29, and of the lower end 27 of the basket with the upper end 28 of the body 10, which will prevent the slips (not shown) of the bridge plug B from being anchored to the well casing, and which will also hold a lower valve (not shown) of the bridge plug in an open position to allow uid to by-pass through the body passage 12 and around the bridge plug.

The apparatus is lowered in the well bore to the point at which the bridge plug B is to be set, after which the retrieving tool E is released lfrom the auxiliary controlk head 43 and elevated above such head and well above the upper end 51 of the basket A. The release of the tool E from the control rod head y43 is described in the aforesaid Patent 2,776,012. -Ihe bridge plug will automatically anchor itself in sealed of condition in the well casing C depending upon the direction of the pressure imposed thereon in the well casing. If pressure is applied from above, then the plug will be -anchored against downward movement in the well casing, with the upper packing cup 11 sealed against the well casing.

A subsequent operation may now be performed in the well bore above the set plug B and the basket A thereabove, the basket remaining in its position resting upon the'upper end of the bodyl). For example, it m-ay be desired to perforate the casing above the plug, either by use of a gun perforator or shaped charges. Such perforating operation is sometimes accompanied by the dropping of a substantial amount of junk or debris in the well casing, which would normally fall upon the bridge plug Band may causeV the latter to stick in the well casing, thereby preventing its retrieval from the well bore. In the present instance, such debris will ldrop into the open upper end of the basket A and into the annular space between the outer sleeve 29 and the auxiliary control ro-d or bar 42, as well as -the annular space 36 between the inner and outerV sleeves 25,l 29. The rubber wiper member 31 is in engagement with the wall of the well casing and will prevent such debris from moving past the outer sleeve 29 and upon the bridge plug B itself. rPhe junk basket A has an ample capacity to receive and retain the junk `and debris that is normally developed in the well casing as a result of performing the operation therein above the bridge plug B -and basket A.

When it is desired to retrieve the bridge plug and basket, the retrieving tool E is lowered -and moved over the auxiliary control rod head 43 and the auxiliary control rod 42 itself, the pin 44 becoming reconnected to the retrieving tool E, as explained in the Patent 2,776,012. The running-in string D and the head 43 may now be moved upwardly which will pull the auxiliary `and normal rods 42, 17 in an upward direction relative to the body 10 of the tool, to prevent the slips (not shown) of the bridge plug from being anchored in the well casing. The bridge plug B, with the basket A resting upon the upper end of its body 10, is now raised in the well casing and removed `entirely therefrom. The fluid in the welll casing can by-pass readily through the basket through the numerous slots or perforations 39 therein during elevating movement of the apparatus in the well casing. Any floating debris or junk in the well casing fluid will also pass through the open upper end of the junk basket and will be trapped therewithin. During such upward movement, the guide S0 at the lower end of the retrieving tool is raised a substantial distance above the upper end 51 of the outer sleeve 29. Such debris or particles in the well casing are prevented from by-passing around the basket by the wiping action of the rubber member 31 upon the wall of the well casing C.

In the event the bridge plug B-becomes stuck in the hole despite the presence of the junk basket A, the latter can be released from the plug and removed from the well bore. The taking of an upward pull on` the running-in string D, retrieving tool E, auxiliary control rod head 43 and auxiliary control rod 42 will effect a pull on the connector 40 with sucient force to shear the pin 41 attaching the connector to the lower control rod head 18. For example, the pin 41 may be designed to shear when subjected to a total force of 15,000 pounds. Upon its shearing, the auxiliary control rod 42 will move upwardly, the upper end 60 of the connector 40 engaging the upper head 38 of the inner sleeve 25, to carry the basket A upwardly in the well casing C and permit it to be removed from the well casing.

Thereafter, following removal ofthe basket A, thek auxiliary control rod head 43 and auxiliary control rod 42 from the well casing, running-in and the retrieving tool E can be relowered in the well casing and the retrieving ltool disposed over the control rod head 18 and control rod 17 for the purpose of releasing the bridge plug B from the casing and effecting its retrieval from the well bore. Thus, it is evident that the control rod head 18 and the control rod 17 of the bridge plug B come into action under emergency conditions, to effect the removal of the bridge plug when its removal cannot otherwise take place. Such control rod head and control rod are also part of the control mechanism for determining the ability of the slips of the bridge plug to be set or be held in an un- S Condition, depending upon the relative position of the rod structure 17 with respect to the body 10 of the tool, as explained in the aforesaid Patent 2,776,012.

The inventor claims:

l. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore; a junk basket adapted to bear upon the upper portion of said packer to move said packer downwardly in the well bore, said basket having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass thereinto; and means for moving said packer longitudinally in the well bore; a releasable connection securing said moving means to said packer, said moving means including means above said releasable connection engageable with said basket to move said basket upwardly in the well bore away from said packer upon release of said connection and in response ,to upward movement of said moving means.

2. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore; a junk basket adapted to bear upon the upper portion of said packer to move said packer downwardly in the well bore, said basket having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass thereinto; and means for moving said packer longitudinally in the well bore; ia rangible connection securing said moving means to said packer, said moving means including means above said frangible connection engageable with said basket to move said basket upwardly in the well bore away from said packer upon disruption of said r'angible connection and in response to upward movement of said moving means.

3. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore and having a body and means for controlling the operation of the well packer, said means including a control rod movable longitudinally in the said body and extending -above the upper end of said body; a member above said control rod; means releasably securing said member to said control rod; a junk basket disposed around said control rod and member yabove said packer and movable relative to said packer and having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass into the basket; and means on said member engageable with said basket to elevate said basket in the well bore.

4. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore and having a body and means for controlling the operation of the well packer, said means including a control rod movable longitudinally in said body and extending above the upper end of said body; a rod member 'above said control rod; means releasably securing said rod member to said control rod; a junk basket disposed around said control rod and rod member above said packer and movable relative to said packer and having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass into the basket; and means on said rod member engageable with said basket to elevate said basket in the Well bore.

5. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore and having a body and means for controlling the operation of the well packer, said means including `a control rod movable longitudinally in said body and extending above the upper end of said body; a rod member above said control rod; frangible means releasably securing said rod member 'to said control rod; a junk basket disposed around said control rod and rod member above said packer and movable relative to said packer and having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass into the basket; and means on said rod member engageable with said basket to elevate said basket in the well bore.

6. In apparatus of the character` described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore and having a body and means for controlling the operation of the well packer, said means including a control rod movable longitudinally in said body and extending above the upper end of said body; a rod member above said control rod; means releasably securing said rod member to said control rod; a junk basket disposed around said control rod and rod member above said packer and movable relative to said packer and having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass into the basket; `and means on said rod member engageable with said basket to elevate said basket in the well bore; said rod member having a laterally extending pin above said basket adapted to be coupled to an apparatus for moving the packer and basket in the well bore.

7. In apparatus of the character described: a packer adapted to be set in a well bore and having a body and means for controlling the operation of the well packer, said means including a control rod movable longitudinally in said body and extending above the upper end of said body; a rod member above said control rod; means releasably securing said rod member to said control rod; a junk basket disposed around said control rod and rod member above said packer and movable relative to said packer and having an upper opening through which junk is adapted to pass into the basket; means on said rod member engageable with said basket to elevate said basket in the well bore; said rod member having a laterally extending pin above said basket adapted to be coupled to an apparatus for moving the packer 'and basket in the well bore; said control rod having a laterally extending pin adapted to be coupled to an apparatus for moving the packer in the Well bore.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,670 Wheeler Jan. 11, 1916 1,487,061l Hein Mar. 18, 192A 1,623,543 Jones et al. Apr. 5, 1927 2,618,345 Tucker Nov. 18, 1952 2,675,879 Middleton et al. Apr. 20. 1954 2,885,010 Frost May 5, 1959 

